Potato-digger



(No Model.) 28heets-Sheet l. P. 0. WILLIAMS.

POTATO BIGGER.

No. 416,203. Patented Dec. 3, 1889.

Exam 0. mafia N. PEYERS, Plmlo-Iiihogvwher, wuningmm D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. 0. WILLIAMS. POTATO DIGGER.

No. 416,203. Patented Dec. 3, 1889.

N. PETERS l mb-Lithographer. Wllhinglon. D- C.

iINiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS OSCAR IVILLIAMS, OF BLOODS DEPOT, NEIV YORK.

POTATO-DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,203, dated December 3, 1889. Application filed March 6, 1889- Serial No. 302,053. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS OSCAR \VIL- LIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloods Depot, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Potato-Diggers, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to an improvementin potato-diggers; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the'claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a potato-digger embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal section. Figs. 4: and 5 are detail views.

A represents an open frame of the preferred V-shaped form shown, provided at its terminals with inwardly-curved arms B. The side arms of the frame are provided with bearings C, in which is journaled a shaft D, and rigidly attached to the ends of the shaft are driving and supporting wheels E.

F represents an arm, which extends rearward from the front side of the frame A, at the center thereof, and is provided with a bearing G for the central portion of the shaft, and from the rear side of the said bearing projects a downwardly-curved arm or spindle II, forming an arc of a circle, the center of which is on a level with the ground at the point a.

I K represent a pair of gear-wheels, which have beveled teeth on their inner side and have hubs formed on their outer side, which are provided with notches L M, respectively. The said Wheels are loose on the shaft D, and are prevented from moving longitudinally thereon by means of collars N.

O P represent clutches, which are feathered 011 the shaft B and are adapted to engage the gear-wheels I K, respectively, and thereby lock either of the said gear-wheels to the shaft. The clutches O and P are provided, respectively, with annular grooves R S, and hand-levers T U are pivoted to the outer ends of the arms B and have their forward-extending ends engaging the said annular grooves of the clutches, the function of the said levers being to operate the clutches, as will be readily understood. 3y this arrangement it will be understood that either of the gear-wheels I K may be locked to the shaft and caused to rotate therewith, while the other wheel is adapted to remain idle on the shaft.

V represents a hub, which is journaled on the front end of the curved arm or spindle II and is formed as a part of a beveled pinion W, which is in constant engagement with both of the wheels I K. Arranged on the said curved arm or spindle and strung thereon is a series of sleeves X, which are connected to each other by knuckle-joints, as shown, whereby they are caused to rotate in unison with the pinions IV. Attached to the lower end of the spindle H by means of a set-screw Y is a hub Z, from the under side of which projects a forward-extending inclined arm A, having its lower end slotted for a suitable length to form an opening B. Near the lower end of the said arm, which tapers to a point, or, rather, is made wedge shape, as shown, is formed a shoulder O, the width of which is equal to the thickness of the arm A, and on the said shoulder is secured a scoop, shoe, or blade D, which is adapted to operate in the soil in the row of potatoes, and thereby dislodge them and cause them to sweep rearward over the said scoop or blade as the machine ad van-cos.

A reel-hub E is loose on the spindle II just in advance of the hub Z and is connect-ed by a knuckle-joint to the rearmost sleeve or coupling X. The said reel-hub is bell-shaped, as shown, and has a flange F at its rear side, and is provided with radial pairs of cars or lugs G, between which are pivotally mount-ed arms II, the extreme inner ends of the latter projecting inward beyond their pivotal bolts I and bearing against the flange F, whereby the said arms are normally disposed in the same plane and are adapted to have their outer ends swung upward when they encounter stones or other obstructions which threaten the integrity of the arms, thereby avoiding the danger of breakage. The lower ends of the reel-arms converge toward the point a in succession when the reel is rotated and are adapted to swing behind and below the upper edge of the blade or scoop.

K represents a pair of handles, which are similar in construction to plow-handles, have their lower front ends attached to opposite sides of the hub Y, and are connected near their outer ends by a cross-bar L in the usual manner.

The operation of my invention will be very readily understood. \Vhen the gear-wheel K is locked to the shaft D, the reel will be revolved to the left, and thereby caused to throw the potatoes as they sweep over the blade or scoop to the left of the machine, the gear-wheel I inthis instance revolving idly on the shaft E in the opposite direction to the revolution of the wheel K. hen said wheel I is locked to the shaft 1) and the wheel K is loose thereon, the reel will be revolved to the right, as is apparent.

By reason of the curved spindle II and the detachable coupling sleeves or sections X, the reel may be adjusted to any desired angle on the said spindle without altering the arrangement of the lower ends of its arms with respect to the blade or scoop.

The function of the shoulderC at thelower end of arm A is to provide an unobstructed surface behind the blade, so that a stone or other object which may fall through the reel will not lodge against the said arm and stop the rotation of the reel and injure the same.

A tongue M is provided at its heel with diverging arms or irons I which are pivoted to ears 0, formed on the front side of the frame A.

Having thus described my invention, I clain1-v 1. The combination, in a potato-digger, of

the frame having the curved spindle H, the.

scoop or blade attached thereto, and the reel revoluble and adjustable on the said spindle, substantially as described.

2. In apotato-digger, the combination of the curved arm or spindle H, the reel revoluble thereon, the pinion loose on the said arm or spindle, the knuckle-jointed detachable sleeves loose on the spindle and connecting the pinion and reel, for the purpose set forth, and gears, substantially as specified, to rotate the pinion, substantially as described.

3. In a potato-digger, the frame having the rearward-extending downwardly-curved arm or spindle II, the'hub Z, secured to the rear end thereof and having the arm A and the blade or scoop attached thereto, the reel loosely mounted 011 the spindle, the detachable knuckle-jointed sleeve-couplings loose on the spindle, and means, substantially as set forth, to rotate the said couplings, substantially as described.

at. The potato-digger comprising the frame having the rearward-extending downwardlycurved spindle H, the shaft D, journaled transversely in the frame and having the drivingand supporting wheels, the pinion WV, loose on the forward end of the spindle, the reel revoluble on the spindle, the hub attached to the spindle, adjustable thereon in rear of the reel, and having the arm A, provided with the scoop or blade, the knucklejointed sleeves loose on the curved spindle and connecting the pinion and reel, the gearwheels I K, loose on the shaft D and engag ing opposite'sides of the pinion, the clutches 011 said shaft to engage said Wheel, for the purpose set forth, and the levers attached to said clutches, all combined and arranged to operate substantially as described.

5. In a potato-digger, a revoluble wheel comprising the hub E, the flange F, and reel-ar1ns pivotally connected to the said flange and having their inner ends bearing thereon, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS OSCAR WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM 'l. SLATTERY, J UDSON ARDELL. 

